Robert Downey Jr. playfully mocks Gwyneth Paltrow for her ongoing confusion about her Marvel movies and costars

At The Hollywood Reporters 2025 Women in Entertainment breakfast gala held at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Robert Downey Jr. playfully ribbed Gwyneth Paltrow over her struggles to remember details about her own Marvel movies and co-stars. The actor gave a speech honoring Paltrow as she received the 20th annual Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, blending heartfelt praise with humorous teasing.

"She's incredibly smart, yet somehow perpetually puzzled by the basics of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and its characters," Downey Jr. remarked, according to THR. He shared a story about Paltrow asking him who Tom Holland was, despite appearing alongside him in multiple films.

"Whos that? she asked," Downey Jr. recalled. "I said, 'Thats Spider-Man. His name is Peter. Its Tom Holland. Youve done four movies with him."

Beyond the jokes, Downey Jr. acknowledged Paltrows accomplishments off-screen, highlighting how she developed her company Goop while filming Iron Man, raised her children, and maintained a successful career in Hollywood.

Paltrow and Downey Jr. famously played Pepper Potts and Tony Stark, respectively, across the Marvel Cinematic Universe from 2008's Iron Man to 2019's Avengers: Endgame. Despite her long tenure in the franchise, Paltrow has become known for forgetting key MCU details, including her appearances in some films.

One memorable moment occurred on the first episode of Netflix's The Chef Show in 2019, when Paltrow mistakenly insisted she wasnt in Spider-Man: Homecoming. MCU director Jon Favreau reminded her of the role, prompting a confused realization: "That was Spider-Man?? Oh my god."

Her Marvel confusion continued in 2024, when she publicly admitted not understanding Downey Jr.'s upcoming role as Dr. Doom in a comment on his Instagram: "I don't get it, are you a baddie now?"

Fans may hope that by the time Avengers: Doomsday releases on December 18, 2026, Paltrow will have brushed up on her MCU knowledge.

Author: Chloe Ramirez